Taiwan Arms Sales

The Obama government is considering a new weapons sale to Taiwan. During Obama’s recent visit to China, complexities in U.S.-China relations emerged. It became apparent that a strategic partnership between the two nations remains a distant goal. The leaders of China and Taiwan are currently preparing for the fourth “Chen-Jiang summit.” Rumors that the U.S. is considering resuming arms sales to Taiwan have not seriously disrupted these preparations. Ultimately, the resolution of the Taiwan issue is up to the Chinese people themselves.

Jiang Yu, a spokesperson for China’s foreign relations department, expressed strong opposition to the potential sale. But this is to be expected. The spokesperson pressed the U.S. to support the peace process in the Taiwan Strait and refrain from jeopardizing U.S.-China relations. But Beijing fully understands that the U.S. will not simply discard its Taiwan card. Since China and the U.S. established diplomatic ties, through the fluctuations in U.S.-China relations, U.S. leaders have continued to approve arms sales to Taiwan. Although Obama has shown that he attaches particular importance to U.S.-China relations, even this will not compel him to ignore the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

According to public announcements, the majority of the weapons under consideration for sale to Taiwan are defensive ones. The U.S. will not sell Taiwan the coveted F-16C/D fighter jet. Even if the U.S. agrees to include German-made diesel submarines in the sale, this will not upset the balance in military power across the Strait. Therefore, it is clear that this is the choice the Obama administration has made after taking account of its myriad interests. Obama has realized, upon careful consideration, that it would not behoove the U.S. to disrupt U.S.-China relations. But with the arms sale under discussion, the U.S. can earn some money from Taiwan and preserve its influence on the island.

However, the Taiwan problem has always been a central issue for China. Obama’s decision to consider renewing arms sales to Taiwan followed right on the heels of his visit to China. Of course leaders in Beijing don’t feel good about this, but to cut off dialogue between the U.S. and China on military issues is out of the question. Fortunately, cross-Strait relations have been improving rapidly since the Taiwanese KMT party came to power. The two sides are connecting and communicating on problems of mutual significance. Thus, though Taiwan may be permitted to buy weapons from the U.S., this will not have a profoundly negative impact on the cross-Strait reconciliation process. If the U.S. goes too far, Beijing can easily retaliate by delaying the removal of its ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan.